Seriously, can you believe it it’s July?! I know, I’m freaking out too. Before we know it, August will come and we’ll all be dragging our butts and our Yaffa Blocks back to school. But fear not, the holiday weekend is here! I don’t know about the rest of you women, but I know I’ll be spending the next 3 days lounging by the pool with a margarita (or two) and a big, juicy hot dog (or three).

But before I start slathering on the sunscreen and packing on the pounds, let’s review the week that was:

- Screw Hollywood and its ageism. These Hollywood Starlets get seriously better with age.

- Ugh all those high school seniors, time to grow up! What’s the deal with having multiple valedictorians?! So unfair.

- Had a bad roommate? Try living with your boyfriend’s MOM. Yeah to be honest, I would just GTFO.

- “Oh, I only eat a salad for dinner and I run everyday!” Seriously? You think your man friends really want to hear that? Get real!

- Some of us are literally melting under the hot sun and still want to look cute. What’s the best way to beat the summer heat?

- Ahhh, teenage celebs. So young and so full of life. And…really, really stupid. Sometimes they should just shut up.

- Eclipse is out and Kristen Stewart is still awkward. What is the obsession with this franchise?! Read More »

Welcome back to The Rival Rundown! If you’ve always wanted to give props to your school on CC, now’s your chance! Shoot us an email explaining what’s awesome and unique about your school (or what stinks about Rival U) at rivalrundown@collegecandy.com!

When you think of school spirit, it’s customary to think of stadiums awash in school colors, spine-tingling chants, and deep-seated hatred for the rival school’s (obviously) inferior traditions. But in Texas, “spirit” comprises all that and more. This week, while we examine the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University- College Station, we learn of traditions and campus lore as large as the Lone Star State itself.  In a world of hand signals, slang, and centuries-old cheering teams, the Texas-Texas A&M rivalry pervades all nuances of life.

1. Mascot Matchup

Texas- Bevo the Longhorn, a particularly menacing-looking brand of cattle, is the pride of UT. The school’s colors, white and burnt orange, are an homage to Bevo’s hide.  Bevo has made the rounds at several important functions, including the inauguration of President George W.  Bush. Should you ever find yourself in conversation with someone from UT, say “Hook ‘em, horns!” and flash the Longhorn hand signal.
Texas A&M- The Aggies–short for agriculture, as per the school’s name–also have a catchphrase and hand signal. It’s commonplace in College Station to sign off by saying “Gig ‘em!” and giving the thumbs-up.  Their official mascot is an American collie named Reveille, who is addressed by the student body as “Miss Reveille, ma’am,” since she is considered a Cadet General in the Aggie cadets.

Three credits to: Texas, where Bevo has the presidential seal of approval. Read More »

When I was a freshman my sorority whisked my pledge class away to an undisclosed location for a girls-only bonding weekend. We were told nothing about where we were headed; our only instructions were to bring some sweats and a going-out outfit or two.

It was only once we were 45 minutes into our drive that we learned where we were going: Ohio State University. Apparently our sorority had a chapter on that campus and it was the perfect place for us to hang.

Riiight.

Naturally, I was scared. I was wearing Michigan sweats from head to toe! (I was a freshman, gimme a break.) And it turns out my fears were justified. After spending a mere hour walking around the campus and having full beer cans and rocks thrown at our heads (we were 40 defenseless Jewish girls, mind you), we were forced to have police escorts for the rest of the weekend. Read More »

“Come on– all the cool kids are doing it.” You probably thought you escaped peer pressure when you got your high school diploma and left all the “Queen Bees” at school behind to hold on to their prom queen crowns for eternity while you moved on to bigger and better things in college.

Sure, college isn’t a catty popularity contest like high school can be, but that doesn’t meant that peer pressure doesn’t exist. In fact, in college, there are thousands of kids on campus who are looking for an opportunity to twist your arm. It can be hard not to say “yes” to a party on a Tuesday night (when you’ve got a midterm at 8 a.m. the next day), or to something “experimental” that you’ll look back on and shudder with disdain in the years to come.

If you don’t think peer pressure exists in college, I have one word for you: RUSH. There are collegiates out there who would sell their souls to join a sorority or a fraternity, and they are willing to do some crazy shizz to get through rush. Get into the Greek scene, and you’ve automatically got a clique of a few dozen new friends. That’s reason enough for some students to go a week without changing their clothes or serve lemonade in a giant purple elephant costume (that is, if Will Ferrell’s running the frat). “Hazing” is now illegal at universities across the country, but that doesn’t mean that the peer pressure of rush week isn’t still in full effect. Some say it’s a college coming-of-age ritual. Hey, to each their own, but still: a rose is a rose is a rose. Read More »